GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Consumers Energy says crews are working through the night to restore power to more than 137,000 customers in the dark after severe weather hit West Michigan Friday night into Saturday morning.
As of Monday morning, 43,000 customers remain without power.
More than 1,400 Consumers Energy employees and contractors are in the field, working to restore power. That includes about 120 out of state workers.
“Our priority over the next 16 hours will be to take advantage of ideal weather conditions as we restore customers still impacted as safely and quickly as we can. The majority of the affected customers will be restored by the end of the day Tuesday.”
The storm system that began Friday evening and continued Saturday pummeled the state with fierce winds, lightning, flooding rains and hail, and knocked out power to over 220,000 homes and businesses. More than 2,800 downed wires have been attributed to the storm.
Packard emphasized that the more than 1,700 employees working in Michigan on behalf of Consumers Energy customers – including workers from energy providers from six other states – are taking safety precautions to protect co-workers, customers, the general public and to return safely to their families.
He urged the general public to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, keep children or pets away, and report the issue by calling 9-1-1 or Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
